As concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in China continue, more professional golf tournaments in the region have been delayed. Most recently, the PGA Tour Series-China has decided to postpone two qualifying tournaments scheduled in Indonesia and Thailand, which will also delay the start of the regular season.
The Tour has notified players who were slated to compete in the event. On pgatour.com, the effect on the rest of the 2020 schedule was explained this way:
“As a result of this decision, PGA TOUR Series-China will also postpone the first four tournaments of the previously released regular season schedule, aiming to play the two postponed Qualifying Tournaments sometime in the latter part of April or early May, with the regular season beginning in the latter part of May or early June. The Tour is planning on a 10-tournament regular season schedule, which will still include 2021 Korn Ferry Tour benefits going to the best-performing players.”
Postponed tournaments are the Sanya Championship (March 23-29); the Haikou Classic (March 30-April 5); the Chongqing Championship (April 6-12) and the Guangzhou Open (April 13-19).
Greg Carlson, PGA Tour Series-China Executive Director, called the outbreak “a major international health issue” and explained that this decision was designed to ensure the safety of players and anyone else associated with the tour’s events.
Other organizations have made similar determinations. Three events in the LPGA’s Asia Swing – one in China, plus one each in Singapore and Thailand – have come off the schedule already, and the R&A last week announced the postponement of the second annual Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, which was to be played in Thailand Feb. 20-23.
“We appreciate the patience our players have shown during what is a difficult time as they try to prepare for their seasons. At the same time, we don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize the health of them or anybody else who is involved in PGA TOUR Series-China,” Carlson said.
According to pgatour.com, the tour will make additional announcements as more information becomes available.